Champions League revenue boost

Higher revenue
"We are pleased to inform you that the budgeted income for the coming season will be higher than the revenue obtained in the previous season, although exact amounts cannot be confirmed at this stage," European football's governing body has told its 52 member associations.

Total revenue
Under the competition regulations, 75 per cent of the total revenue received from television and commercial contracts concluded by UEFA, up to a maximum of €519m, will go to the 32 clubs taking part in the group stage of Europe's premier club competition. The remaining 25 per cent is earmarked for European football and remains with UEFA to cover organisational and administrative costs, as well as for solidarity payments to associations, clubs and leagues.

Starting basis
It is also stipulated that participating clubs will receive 82 per cent of any revenue received from the same stream in excess of €519m, with the remaining 18 per cent allocated to UEFA for European football. UEFA has advised the associations that as a starting basis, the gross amount available in the 2004/05 Champions League pool will be €584m (2003: €565m) – €580m from TV and commercial contracts and €4m from new media contracts (€2m of the latter amount will go to the clubs, with €2m set aside for European football).

Use within European football
Based on those amounts, €441m would go to the 32 clubs, including €22m for the professional leagues of the participating associations, and €143m to UEFA for European football.

Solidarity amounts
Solidarity payments to European associations, leagues and clubs are expected to total around €76m. Some €22m will go to European leagues represented in the Champions League, while between €6.5m and €12m will be distributed among the European leagues not represented in the competition. The solidarity contributions are, among other things, intended for investment in club youth development programmes.

Non-qualifiers
Each club taking part in the 2004/05 Champions League or UEFA Cup can expect to receive €52,000 per round if they do not qualify for the Champions League group match stage and/or are eliminated in the first round or earlier of the UEFA Cup. Each domestic champion which fails to reach the Champions League group stage is also set to receive a €97,000 bonus.